Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister's Question Time from 27th January 1993.

PRIME MINISTER:

India

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy during his visit to India to raise the matter of the conditions under which India would join the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

During his visit my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has discussed with Prime Minister Rao the attitude of the Indian Government towards the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and has emphasised the importance we attach to universal membership of the treaty.

Machine Tools (Iraq)

Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Amber Valley (Mr. Oppenheim), of 11 January, Official Report, column 555, what information he has on the sale of machine tools from Germany to Iraq in 1987, 1988 and 1989, based on the standard international trade classification.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Mr. Cousins) on 26 January.

Genetically Modified Material

Mr. Cousins : To ask the Prime Minister which Department has the responsibility for the licensing and control of premises using genetically modified material for research, development and production purposes for industrial, medical or educational uses.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

The Secretary of State for Employment has responsibility for the Genetic Manipulation Regulations 1989, which require all those intending to use premises for the first time for genetic modification work to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Notification requirements also apply to the subsequent activities involving genetic modification.

A range of additional requirements, which are the responsibility of a number of Departments, apply to specific products which may be genetically modified. The products include medicines, plant pathogens, food additives, veterinary medicines and agricultural pesticides.

Correspondence

Mr. Flynn : To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to provide a substantive reply to the letter sent to him by Mr. Barrington of Clist road, Bettws, Newport, on 30 November 1992.

Mr. Newton : I have been asked to reply.

A reply was sent by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's office on 10 December 1992. A reply to the hon. Member's constituent's letter of 13 January 1993 will be sent in due course.

Iraq

Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Prime Minister if he will seek time at the United Nations for reconsideration of sanctions against Iraq.

Mr. Newton [holding answer 26 January 1993] : I have been asked to reply.

The Security Council reviews sanctions against Iraq every 60 days in compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 687. The most recent review meeting took place on 25 January at which the Security Council concluded that conditions did not exist for the modification or lifting of sanctions against Iraq.